Many customers often inquire about the specific parameters of protection and explosion-proof levels when purchasing explosion-proof products. However, these crucial aspects are frequently overlooked, leading to widespread confusion between the two concepts. Today, let’s clarify the distinct differences between the protection level and explosion-proof level:
Explosion-Proof: This term refers to the classification level of electrical equipment used in hazardous areas.
Protection: Relates to water and dust resistance.
Explosion-Proof Level:
For example, the explosion-proof symbol “Ex (ia) IIC T6” signifies:
| Symbol Content | Symbol | Significato |
|---|---|---|
| Explosion proof declaration | Ex | Meets certain explosion-proof standards, such as China's national standards |
| Explosion proof method | ia | Adopting IA level intrinsic safety explosion-proof method, it can be installed in Zone 0 |
| Gas category | IIC | Promised to involve IIC explosive gases |
| Temperature group | T6 | The surface temperature of the instrument shall not exceed 85°C |
Protection Level:
For instruments used in explosive hazard zones, it’s essential to specify the protective level of their enclosures. This is represented by the IP rating.
The first level of protection prevents human contact with live and moving parts inside the enclosure, as well as the ingress of solid objects.
The second level of protection safeguards against harmful effects caused by water entering the product.
The first digit after “IP” indicates the level of dust protection.
| Numero | Ambito di protezione | Descrizione |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Senza protezione | No special protection for external people or objects |
| 1 | Prevent solid foreign objects with a diameter greater than 50mm from entering | Prevent the human body (such as the palm) from accidentally coming into contact with internal electrical components, and prevent larger external objects (with a diameter greater than 50mm) from entering |
| 2 | Prevent solid foreign objects with a diameter greater than 12.5mm from entering | Prevent human fingers from touching internal parts of electrical appliances and prevent medium sized (diameter greater than 12.5mm) foreign objects from entering |
| 3 | Prevent solid foreign objects with a diameter greater than 2.5mm from entering | Prevent tools, wires, and similar small foreign objects with a diameter or thickness greater than 2.5mm from invading and coming into contact with internal parts of electrical appliances |
| 4 | Prevent solid foreign objects with a diameter greater than 1.0mm from entering | Prevent tools, wires, and similar small foreign objects with a diameter or thickness greater than 1.0mm from invading and coming into contact with internal parts of electrical appliances |
| 5 | Prevent external objects and dust | Completely preventing foreign objects from entering, although it cannot completely prevent dust from entering, the amount of dust intrusion will not affect the normal operation of the electrical appliances |
| 6 | Prevent external objects and dust | Completely prevent the intrusion of foreign objects and dust |
The second digit signifies the level of water protection.
| Numero | Ambito di protezione | Descrizione |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Senza protezione | Nessuna protezione specifica contro l'acqua o l'umidità |
| 1 | Evitare che le gocce d'acqua penetrino all'interno | Le gocce d'acqua che cadono verticalmente (come la condensa) non causano danni agli apparecchi elettrici |
| 2 | Se inclinata di 15 gradi, è comunque possibile impedire alle gocce d’acqua di penetrare all’interno | Quando l'elettrodomestico è inclinato verticalmente di 15 gradi, l'acqua che gocciola non provoca danni all'elettrodomestico |
| 3 | Evitare che l'acqua spruzzata penetri all'interno | Prevenire la pioggia o i danni agli apparecchi elettrici causati dagli spruzzi d'acqua provenienti da direzioni con un angolo verticale inferiore a 60 gradi |
| 4 | Evitare che l'acqua spruzzata penetri all'interno | Evitare che gli schizzi d'acqua provenienti da tutte le direzioni penetrino negli apparecchi elettrici e causino danni |
| 5 | Evitare che l'acqua spruzzata penetri all'interno | Evitare spruzzi d'acqua a bassa pressione che durino almeno 3 minuti |
| 6 | Evitare che le onde di grandi dimensioni entrino all’interno | Evitare spruzzi d'acqua eccessivi che durino almeno 3 minuti |
| 7 | Evitare l'immersione in acqua durante l'immersione | Prevenire gli effetti dell'immersione per 30 minuti in acqua profonda fino a 1 metro |
| 8 | Evitare l'immersione in acqua durante l'affondamento | Evitare l'immersione prolungata in acqua a una profondità superiore a 1 metro. Le condizioni precise sono specificate dal produttore per ciascun dispositivo. |
